DANVILLE, Va. -- The host Averett Cougars forced a split in Thursday's USA South doubleheader with the Meredith College softball team on a 6-3 game one victory. The Avenging Angels responded with a 4-1 win in the nightcap.

Game 1
Sarah Watson was the only Angel to advance to first through the first three frames, and Averett loaded the bases in the bottom of the third with help from an infield throwing error. An RBI-walk set the scoring in motion before Meredith pitcher Taylor Jackson forced back-to-back fly balls to get out of the inning.

Kelsey Mabe led off in the fourth with a single and found her way to third for a Maria Annunziata RBI to tie the game.

With two outs on the board in the bottom of the inning, AU drove in four runs on four hits to pull ahead for good. The Avenging Angels benefited from an error in the fifth to score one, and Rachel Peel drove in a third in the sixth, but the AU defense handled Meredith's top-of-the-order in the seventh to close out the win.

Jackson recorded the loss for Meredith with 4.0 innings pitched, allowing five hits with five earned runs, five walks, and three strikeouts. Myah Morse entered in the fifth to face eight batters. AU's Taylor Bailey earned her 10th season win, and Kaitlyn Aherron entered midway through the sixth for the save.

Game 2
Down 1-0 through four innings, the Avenging Angel bats finally started to produce. Eran Artigues and Mabe walked, and Julia Allsbrook advanced on a Cougar misstep to load the bases in the fifth. Brittany Bucklin ripped one down the left field line to drive in two runs, and Mabe advanced home on an outfield miscue. Annunziata scored Bucklin on a triple but was caught out at home trying to score. The four runs proved enough for the victory.

Julia Cerasi earned her sixth career win with a complete game pitched. She allowed three runs, with the one run earned, to go along with four walks, striking out five. Aherron recorded the loss for Averett.

With the split Meredith dropped into second place in the league's East Division standings behind Ferrum, and the two teams face off Saturday afternoon in a battle for first. The Avenging Angels close out the regular season Sunday afternoon in a Noon doubleheader versus Mary Baldwin with tournament hosting privileges on the line for round one action next weekend. Head Coach Kim Scavone and her team will recognize the four-year career of senior Alyssa D'Arco in between Sunday's games.

Follow Bill Zeoli on the call along with video and live stats HERE both days.